Whenever I tell people about everything I’m involved in, I often get one of two reactions. Some think, “He’s lying – no one can possibly do all that, so he can’t really be doing it.” Others assume, “He might do it, but he can’t be doing it all well. Surely corners are being cut.” Those are what I see in their heads at least, the outward response is usually an odd look that I interpret as those two thoughts.
The truth is, I really do juggle all these ventures, and I’m proud of the quality I deliver in each of them. How? I’ve learned to leverage traits often associated with ADHD and turn them into a genuine superpower – working with my natural tendencies rather than fighting them.
That said, I forget pretty much anything not in my diary, I lose anything not attached to me and if I put it down, it stops existing. I’m not waving a flag or claiming a formal diagnosis, but I recognise I have most of the traits associated with ADHD. Rather than letting them hold me back, I’ve harnessed them to juggle multiple businesses and produce real results.
Recognising the Traits, Avoiding the Labels
I see plenty of classic ADHD traits in myself: I have a racing mind, boundless curiosity, and an odd knack for switching contexts in the blink of an eye. But I’m not interested in a label, save for the purpose of this article. Instead, I focus on the outcomes I want and the systems that help me achieve them. Labels can explain how we’re wired, but they shouldn’t limit our potential.
(almost) Everything I’m Involved In
From the outside, my spinning plates might seem bewildering:
😵💫 – Motor Mechanics Garage: I run the business end of a fully operational garage, managing multiple team members and a range of complex services for our customers. More info here.
😵💫 – OMG (Business Growth Consultancy): I advise companies on how to drive real, sustainable growth – sometimes diving into marketing strategies, sometimes building entire business roadmaps. More info here.
😵💫 – Venture Catalysts: I support startups and scale-ups through strategic input and, in many cases, connecting them with the right funding pathways. More info here.
😵💫 – Marketing Consultancy: I work primarily with SMEs, chartered institutes, and charities, shaping campaigns, refining messaging, and helping clients stand out in cluttered markets. More info here.
😵💫 – Tools as a Service: I develop and offer software tools that automate and streamline daily tasks, many of which I originally created to help my own ventures run smoothly. More info here.
😵💫 – Education Software: I’m keen on building EdTech solutions that genuinely engage and help learners progress.
😵💫 – The Worshipful Company of Entrepreneurs: I contribute to this historic organisation, championing an entrepreneurial spirit in everything we do. More info here.
😵💫 – City of London Support: I commit time and resources to civic and philanthropic projects that strengthen our wider community. More info here.
Creating Order from Chaos
It might look chaotic from the outside, but I rely on a number of principles and tools to keep everything flowing:
Integrated Systems & Automations
I’m a big believer in turning my thinking into actionable frameworks, and I use AI to help me do it. When I come up with a new idea, I leverage AI tools to transform those initial thoughts into practical strategies – and then quickly move from framework to execution.
👉 – ClickUp: Holds all my projects, tasks, and progress updates in one central place. Discount here.
👉 – Apple Notes, Reminders & Shortcuts: My quick – capture system for thoughts, ideas, or tasks when I’m away from my desk.
👉 – Fireflies for Video Calls & PLAUD for In – Person Meetings: I record transcripts, notes, and action items automatically. Then I use client-specific custom GPTs to turn those transcripts into tangible meeting outcomes, prep materials, and execution plans – maximising every conversation. Try Fireflies or PLAUD, you won’t regret it.
👉 – Zapier: Connects everything behind the scenes, automating repetitive jobs so I can focus on what matters most.
I’ve also built automations to silence notifications when I jump on calls, enable the right apps or files if a meeting has a shared link, and capture all my notes without me clicking a single button.
Outcome Mapping Instead of Time Blocking
Rather than scheduling every minute of my day (and risking the grind of a rigid plan), I identify the outcomes I need. I’m well aware of Parkinson’s Law – work often expands to fill the time allotted – so I avoid setting arbitrary blocks. Instead, I know which tasks need completion. If I sense I’m getting antsy or distracted, I’ll pivot to a different project that needs a fresh perspective. Once I hit a deliverable, I move to the next target.
Accepting and Using Hyperfocus
Sometimes, an idea or task grabs me so strongly that I can power through it in record time – this is where the label of ADHD, or at least the trait of hyperfocus, becomes a massive advantage. The key is letting myself dive in when I’m in that zone, without worrying about whether I’m “supposed” to be doing something else.
My Secret Weapon: Vicky
Instead of calling it “delegation,” I prefer to say I lean on the strengths of others – especially my wife and business partner, Vicky. She’s exceptionally organised, has an incredible eye for detail, and is the rock I rely on for the areas that aren’t my natural strong suit. Working hand in hand, we cover each other’s blind spots and maintain a higher overall standard across every venture we manage together.
Templating & Repurposing
Whenever I develop a robust process – whether it’s a marketing plan, a strategic framework for a startup, or a new tool for automating tasks – I create a template. Then I reuse and adapt that template across multiple businesses. A single good idea can provide value dozens of times over. It’s about asking, “How can I repurpose this to add value elsewhere?” rather than reinventing the wheel every time.
Consistency and Quality
I’m sometimes met with disbelief when people realise how many irons I have in the fire, but I’m just as concerned about quality as I am about momentum. I deliver completed, polished work across all these ventures precisely because my systems are built to handle the rapid shifts in focus. It’s not about piling on tasks and hoping I don’t drop any; it’s about fine-tuning a process that allows me to thrive on variety while still maintaining high standards.
Can you please add this section underneath the consistency and quality section?
Every Superpower Has Its Kryptonite
I’d love to say I’ve perfected my process, but the reality is, no one’s immune to a few productivity pitfalls. There are certain things that feel like kryptonite to me – situations or behaviours that throw a wrench into my otherwise supercharged workflow:
📚- Unformatted, Unstructured Text: My brain thrives on clarity and structure. When someone sends me endless paragraphs of rambling text, I find myself having to spend way too long picking it apart and turning it into something coherent. To cope, I’ve actually built a custom GPT that can sift through a wall of text and help me create summaries or action points. But honestly, I wish people would take just a moment to think before dumping reams of information on someone. A little formatting goes a long way.
🐢 – Unreliable Commitments: If you promise to send something, please send it. My day is mapped around outcomes – so if I’m waiting on a file, a response, or a piece of data that doesn’t arrive, I end up chasing it (or I have to reconfigure my schedule at the last minute). That shifting of gears can really knock me out of my focus zone.
😬 – Last Minute Meeting Changes: When people suddenly move or cancel a meeting, my head is still locked into that “focus mode” I carved out. It’s like being ready to sprint at the starting line, only to find out the race has been delayed – now I’m stuck in limbo for the next hour. It’s not that I can’t adapt; it’s just that my mind’s energy was fully channelled into that specific slot.
🫥 – Short Gaps Between Meetings: Anything under an hour feels like being in no man’s land – I can’t fully tackle a new project, and I don’t have time to debrief from the previous task. I often find filler work I hadn’t planned on, but it’s rarely the best use of that time. A decent buffer makes all the difference in shifting focus effectively.
I’m sharing these “kryptonite” factors because it’s important to remember that even the biggest strengths come with trade-offs. By pinpointing these pitfalls, I can address them head-on – through automations, clear communication, or just being firm about my time. It’s not about expecting perfection from myself or others, but about acknowledging where the friction points lie and finding workable solutions.
Embracing the Superpower
So, if you see shades of this in yourself – racing thoughts, multiple passions, or a knack for hyperfocus – don’t let a label or stigma hold you back. Embrace the energy, create systems that play to your strengths, and find people whose talents complement yours. By adapting these strategies, you might just discover that what you once considered a weakness is actually your greatest asset.
And that’s how I manage to keep a motor mechanics garage running smoothly, advise startups, lead a business growth consultancy, shape marketing campaigns for SMEs, chartered institutes, and charities, build education software, support a historic entrepreneurial institution, and contribute to the City of London – without sacrificing quality or creativity. I’m not lying, and I’m not cutting corners; I’ve simply found a way to channel traits associated with ADHD into something powerful, productive, and truly rewarding.
